The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
‘Pokemon: Let’s Go’ games bridge two worlds
“Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!” and “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” take advantage of the leap in hardware power.
Although it’s no longer the phenomenon that defined a summer, “Pokemon Go” has settled into its own niche. It sits as the pre-eminent game of its genre and its success has been too big for Nintendo to ignore.
The mobile game has brought in millions of new fans to the franchise, and judging from the type of people I encounter on my own adventures, it’s a diverse group that includes older people as well as college students. With so many players taking a step into the Pokemon world, how does The Pokemon Company and Nintendo bridge the gap between their mobile game and the core series?
The answer lies in “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!” and “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” The two titles are the first flagship entries on the Nintendo Switch, and they take advantage of the leap in hardware power. Simultaneously, the projects adopt many of the gameplay mechanics of the mobile game.
It’s a mix that appears awkward at first. With drastic changes to the established formula, the “Let’s Go” titles risk alienating a hardcore fan base that grew up with the series. Meanwhile, the jump from simple touch-screen gameplay to a more complex form of battling can intimidate the mobile crowd.
The miracle of “Let’s Go” is how the developer, Game Freak, expertly melds elements of the two games together so that they satisfy both audiences. Those looking for a console version of “Pokemon Go” should be delighted to learn the mobile game’s mechanics transfer effortlessly to the Switch. Players aim using the motion controls and they press a button to throw. Depending on the accuracy and size of the catch circle, they’ll have a higher chance of catching a pocket monster.
To push players toward exploration, the team revamped the world so that Pokemon inhabit a living and breathing environment. They mill around forests and wander caves, and players have to maneuver their avatar to catch them. It’s another change for the series, one that deepens the detail and makes the Pokemon feel woven into the fabric of the world.
On the opposite end, veterans will find that the new catch mechanics don’t ruin the experience. They’ll still find plenty of fighting throughout the campaign. In fact, there are even more battles to make up for the absence of traditional Pokemon encounters. Dueling other trainers is even more important, seeing as that’s how money is earned and those funds are used to buy Poke Balls.
Despite the new catch mechanics, the “Let’s Go” games retain the familiar grind of the Japanese roleplaying game. The difference lies in the method. Instead of going through rote battles with wild Pokemon, players try to capture as many Pokemon as they can find, culling the weak ones and keeping the best to level up. Interestingly enough, with each Pokemon transferred to Professor Oak, players receive candy that boosts a Pokemon’s stats.
Catching has been a backbone of the series because it gradually levels up Pokemon, but this new method feels less monotonous. It requires skill and it rewards players through the introduction of Catch Combos. The more of a certain type of Pokemon players catch the higher the chance the next one will have better stats and perhaps even be shiny. Rare creatures may even show up. It’s this possibility that makes this form of catching both addictive and fun.
The other element the developer leverages is the “Pokemon” cartoon series. By now, the story of Ash Ketchum, Misty, Brock and Team Rocket are wellknown to fans. In the “Let’s Go” games, some of these fan favorites make an appearance with storylines lifted from the animated series. It offers a heavy dose of nostalgia, and when combined with the return to the Kanto region, it deepens
Bay Area News Group
longtime fans’ connection to the game.
Although catching Pokemon may be different, the challenge of the series stays the same. The first few hours are easy, but the challenge ramps up quickly and veterans who know the weaknesses and powers of each move and Pokemon will find their skills put to the test. Newcomers to the series may be bewildered by the range and complexity of the moves. They’ll have to power up their pocket monster or seek advice from experts to navigate the finer points of a console battle and win.
Moving beyond that, there is another reward for “Pokemon Go” players. Those who make it to Fuchsia City have the opportunity to transfer some of their Pokemon from the mobile game over to the console. Doing that gives “Pokemon Go” players a special Mystery Box that lets them catch Meltan. It’s a box that can be used for 30 minutes every seven days.
Meanwhile, “Let’s Go” players can find and catch the transferred Pokemon in Go Park. From there, they can use that creature to battle other trainers in the console game. It’s yet another way that these new chapters engage two fan bases and unite them through their love of Pokemon.